(Assignment 3) India Corruption Study 2008 (CMS) - Evi

India Corruption Study is a broad report on the perception, experience and estimation of corruption in the specific context of a service. Unlike earlier studies, this one is focused on BPL households, mostly in rural India.  Eleven services were investigated, divided broadly into “basic services” (PDS, Hospital, School Education, Electricity and Water Supply Services) and “need-based services” (Land Records & Registration, Housing, Forest, NREGS, Banking and Police Service).

1.     About one-third of BPL households, across the country paid bribes in the last one year to avail one or more of the eleven public services covered in the study. It shows the poor are not spared even in the case of targeted programmes.

2.     Nearly two per cent of BPL households could not avail PDS, School Education and Electricity services, as they could not pay bribe or alternately had no contact or influence to get access to services. In fact, in the last one year, more than four per cent of BPL households could not obtain Land Records/Registration, NREGS, Housing and Police Service for the same reasons.

3.     Perception about Corruption: Perception about corruption was a mixed one. Corruption, as perceived by users of the service, is relatively high (two-thirds or more) in Police, Land and Housing services. In these services, the percentage of those who think corruption has increased in the previous year is also high. These services are monopolistic in the nature, with more scope for discretionary decision making and also because the money involved in these transactions is higher.

4.     Use of “a contact”: If they cannot pay bribe to avail a public service like PDS, NREGS and/or Housing, even though it is a targeted programmes aimed at BPL households, a “contact” would enable them to access the same. This “contact” could be a “middle man” or a functionary including an elected representative.

5.     Paid Bribe (purpose): One-third or more of BPL households paid bribes in the case of basic services only “to get into the very service” like getting a new ration card, new connection, new installation or an admission in school. In fact, in the case of need-based services, half or more of BPL households paid bribe either for obtaining a certificate, a record, to get registered as eligible, to get an allotment, to get bank loan, or to file a complaint in Police Station.

6.     Causes of Corruption: In the delivery of basic services, it is procedures that were pointed out as the cause of corruption and for their need to be simplified. In the case of need-based services, it is more counselling and sensitizing of the staff and transparency in the processes that needs to be addressed seriously. Citizens’ felt that “absence and/or non-availability of staff” reinforces the environment for “bribe seeking”. Similarly, the discretionary powers of the functionaries at the service delivery point, the more the scope for corruption – as in Police, Forest and Housing services.

7.     Suggestion: Urgently required are simplification of procedures and even eliminating certain formalities for BPL households; more visible and interactive redressal practices; curbing discretionary options with individuals at service delivery points; and accountability by giving identities of functionaries.